I visited the Indianapolis Museum of Art on the 13th of April. It was a very lovely visit and I was able to view many different pieces of artwork. The four that I have chosen to analyze are Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee by Ludolf Backhuysen, At the End of the Porch by John Sharman, Still Life by Abbott Henderson Thayer, and The Canal—Morning Effect by Richard Buckner Gruelle. Through viewing and analyzing these pieces I have come to the conclusion that artwork is more than just a picture. It truly is communication from the artist through his artwork, which captures emotion and beauty, to the viewer who interprets the art in his own unique way. The first painting I viewed was Ludolf Backhuysen’s Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee. I was attracted to this piece because it is based on the Bible story of Jesus calming the storm. That particular story holds a special place in my heart because Jesus’ disciples tried everything to calm the storm themselves, but their last resort was to go to Jesus. This story serves as a reminder to go to Jesus first, and seek His help before seeking the help of others. It also reminds me to place my complete trust in Jesus Christ alone. Artistically, I was drawn to this piece because of the realistic depiction of this narrative. The use of highlighting and shading along with the depth of the hue captured my attention. After further research, I found that Ludolf Backhuysen was a German artist. He started as a scribe and then became interested in the art of calligraphy. From there, he dabbled in pen paintings and then started to do oil paintings. His first oil painting was in 1658, and he joined the painters’ guild five years later ("Backhuysen, Ludolf"). During his time o... ... middle of paper ... ...n (accessed April 14, 2014). IMA. "The Canal--Morning Effect." Indianapolis Museum of Art. http://www.imamuseum.org/collections/artwork/canal%C2%97morning-effect-gruelle richard-buckner (accessed April 14, 2014). IMA. "Still Life." Indianapolis Museum of Art. http://www.imamuseum.org/collections/artwork/still-life-thayer-abbott-handerson (accessed April 14, 2014). "Mark 4:35-41 (English Standard Version)." Bible Gateway. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+4:35-41 (accessed April 14, 2014). National Gallery of Art, Washington. "Backhuysen, Ludolf." National Gallery of Art. http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/Collection/artist info.5957.html?artistId=5957&pageNumber=1 (accessed April 14, 2014). Smithsonian Institution. "Abbott Thayer." American Art. http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/online/thayer/thayer-intro-pg-1.html (accessed April 14, 2014).
For my research I decided to visit the Smithsonian art museum in Washington dc. The Smithsonian art museum has about 3299 art works on display for viewing. I was able to see many great works of art while the art museum. The trip was eye opening. I was exposed to different art techniques with varying use of contrast and depth. I noted the different brush strokes and drawing styles and how they varied between each artist. After viewing many works of art, I decided to compare Henry O Tanner’s painting “The head of a Jew in Palestine” with Alice Pike Barneys painting, “The head of a Negro Boy”
When looking at the painting it gives us a glimpse of the past. It looks almost like a photograph. The fine detail from the building on the right with the statue on top. The citizens walking around.
Art educates. This education can be both positive and negative but art can function as an educational tool that has lasting effects. A 2009 article in the New York Times titled: “Schools Adopt Art as Building Block of Education” indicates the growing acceptance of art functioning in education. In this article, the unique architecture of the building was used practically by students “measuring whimsical figures of hot-air balloons, paper airplanes and pinwheels built right into the walls of their school” (par. 1). The architecture also functioned as inspiration for further learning. In addition, the article documented the perspective of a four-year old child who proclaimed that “When you look at it, it helps you learn.” (par. 20) When Jeremiah looked at the image of heaven and hell he learned significant life lessons. This picture that was presented in residential school ...
First, the size of the painting drew me in before all. It measures at 339.1 by 199.5 cm, surrounded by a large golden frame. The size alone is enough to bring in any person passing by. Once getting close, the really wonder happened. The story told by the painting
I never go anywhere alone. After a depressive Saturday morning I finally crawled out of bed and went to the Cummer Museum. Art is one thing that I don’t understand. How people can find deeper meanings from paint on a canvas is Japanese to me. When I look at a painting I see exactly what is being shown and nothing more. There is no deeper meaning evident. Being at this museum cranky and solo trying to find a picture I felt connected to was almost impossible. It took me about ten minutes to go through the whole museum. But in one of the last sections I went in there was finally something that my eyes were drawn to. An image that made me want to find the deeper meaning. Thomas Hart Benton’s June Morning.
This is an extremely high relief sculpture made of limestone. It is to be viewed from a frontal standpoint. It however does have a potential for movement. There seems to be a great deal going on in such a close space. It is very crowded, but dramatic. The figures are intertwining with each other all at once even though there are different things happening. It reminds me of a play with scenes. You can actually step in to it and feel as though you are a part of what is happening because of all the different directions each individual is facing.
For the first cultural event, I decided to visit the Orlando Museum of Art. Personally, I had never been to an art museum until now so I wasn’t sure what the art would like. I never had an interest to go to an art museum or an interest for art in general because it is very uninteresting in my opinion. I felt like I didn’t belong in the art world. I felt like art was meant for intelligent individuals who understood complex art and the intentions behind a piece of art. Even if I tried to understand art, I was always very critical of it because I never understood what makes art “art” and why it is so important to others. By touring the Orlando Museum of Art, I was hoping to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding for art.
People can have many different opinions depending on a topic, but what is truly difficult is getting a complete level of understanding from every opinion, or understanding the point of view of each opinion. Even accepting the points of view can be difficult for some people, who believe that their opinions are right. Luckily, people can learn about the other person’s frame of reference, and at the very least understand the topic or the person a little better. This particular topic is art, which is known for its multiple possible perceptions or its many different messages that it can send a person or group of people. In this way, people can learn more about the thought processes and feelings of others. Unfortunately, with differing opinions,
The Annunciation is one of the most popular biblical scenes depicted in the early northern renaissance painting community. By focusing on this one particular scene, as painted by artists considered to be great at their craft in the Flemish region, either by birth or by employment, it is possible to note the individual style of each, and therefore, prove that not one of these artists should be considered the ‘best’.
These paintings are examples of two different styles of painting from the Renaissance, Florentine and Netherlandish. Both are beautiful pieces of art that show the Annunciation, a big day for many Christians that is still celebrated more than two millennia later. These two beautiful paintings done by two great painters are great examples of early Renaissance styles and techniques. Even today, we can marvel at the beauty of these paintings hundreds of years later.
Seeing the art in person truly made me see the beauty and captivity a painting can hold. Each gallery was filled with different American works. My favorite kind of paintings are the ones I can look at and immediately write a story in my head about what is happening, even if it not what the artist intended. As I was going through the galleries one painting in particular stuck in my mind. I was fortunate enough to experience a special exhibition called, “Audubon to Warhol.” It was composed of different works acquired from private and public collections. I was lured to the emotions that was captured by the main figure in one of the works. I was drawn not only to the beauty of the painting, but the story it shared. The painting I chose was Peeling Onions, by Lilly Martin Spencer.
When I saw Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring about five years ago at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., I felt something about the painting that I had never felt before when looking at artwork. I felt as if this girl, this young woman in the painting was real, hiding in the museum behind this canvas. She was in the flesh. Her skin was still dewy from three hundred-something years ago, the light across her face still glowing. She was in the round, her eyes followed mine, she was real. She was about to speak, she was in a moment of thought, she was in reflection. This girl was not crimson red or titanium white, she was flesh. Vermeer caught her, a butterfly in his hand. She was not just recorded on canvas, she was created on canvas. She was caught in a moment of stillness. Vermeer creates moments in his paintings. When viewing them, we step into a private, intimate setting, a story. Always, everything is quiet and calm. I realize now it is no wonder I had such a strong reaction to Vermeer the first time I saw him: he is a stillness seeker.
Larmann, R., & Shields, M. (2011). Art of Renaissance and Baroque Europe (1400–1750). Gateways to Art (pp. 376-97). New York: W.W. Norton.
Art through the ages has been a powerful voice for both secular and religious ideas, and the treasury of Christian art should not be relegated to museum viewing. The art should be displayed in the church were it is meant to be. Its richness can be brought to people in schools and adult study groups. This, in turn, can help to bring art up to the level, that the faith deserves. Churches should fill the walls with art to show what happened throughout the bible. Art creates connections and associations between what we see and what we sense happened. Both ritual and art challenge us to take us beyond the immediate, if they are to bring about true insight and transformation in our lives.
To me the painting is a way of showing you what everyone else is seeing. That the painter had the men looking right at each other so they can see themselves running away. In turn I got to see myself doing the same thing and was able to change because of it. When other people look at the painting they probably see something else. That is why I choose to do the painting, it gives you the choice too interpret it any way you see fit. Or it can just be a beautiful painting to look at, but the painting was so much more to me. It painted a thousand words for me.